Okay, y'all—this day was bound to happen, so don't act so surprised. Let's just get on down to the nitty-gritty.
They don’t come any sweeter than Vivian Jewel Jones, Baby!
This sweet, little silver-haired lady is the next door neighbor of Bret and Susan Douglas. Often known as Auntie Jewel or Ms. Viv, she is the typical, traditional Southern grandmother, greeting everyone she meets with “Hey, Baby—how you doin’?”
A native of the Mississippi Delta (Ruleville, Mississippi, to be exact), Ms. Vivian is the mother of five children, and a doting grandmother of seven. She is also recognized in her community as a good neighbor and a true friend. An avid churchgoer, one can find Ms. Vivian on the second row of the Mother’s Board at First Baptist Church every Sunday, and you can catch her at Bible Study on Wednesday evenings. “Oh, I reads my Word, Baby!” she says with a warm smile.
Ms. Vivian also strongly believes in reciprocity; she is always willing to help others as best as she can on account of she once needed help herself, especially when her husband Clark passed away in 1996. It has been over ten years since her husband's passing, and even though Ms. Vivian still misses him—and rightfully so—she still puts on a smile and lends an encouraging word to a listening ear. Such was the case when Bret was hospitalized, and Susie was visibly upset; Ms. Vivian encouraged Susie to see about Bret, despite the apprehension.
Ms. Vivian is very close to the Douglas Family—so close, in fact, that she automatically became a part of their family; she even suggested that Howard, Sarah, and Nicole call her "Aunt Tea." She is also known throughout the neighborhood as the woman who makes "the best damn strawberry seven-up cake in the world."
Ms. Vivian is also a very strong-willed (and sometimes stubborn) woman. She has been known to stand up to individuals that are much taller than her; all she has to do is stare them down, and they seemingly run off in terror. Ms. Vivian explains that when these certain individuals run away, they just notice her heavenly army that is constantly around her.
If she is not at a church meeting or visiting the Douglases, Ms. Vivian will be seen taking care of the elderly and the sick, watering the front yard, or taking an adventurous trip around Southern California with her eldest grandchild Candace.
This sweet, little silver-haired lady is the next door neighbor of Bret and Susan Douglas. Often known as Auntie Jewel or Ms. Viv, she is the typical, traditional Southern grandmother, greeting everyone she meets with “Hey, Baby—how you doin’?”
A native of the Mississippi Delta (Ruleville, Mississippi, to be exact), Ms. Vivian is the mother of five children, and a doting grandmother of seven. She is also recognized in her community as a good neighbor and a true friend. An avid churchgoer, one can find Ms. Vivian on the second row of the Mother’s Board at First Baptist Church every Sunday, and you can catch her at Bible Study on Wednesday evenings. “Oh, I reads my Word, Baby!” she says with a warm smile.
Ms. Vivian also strongly believes in reciprocity; she is always willing to help others as best as she can on account of she once needed help herself, especially when her husband Clark passed away in 1996. It has been over ten years since her husband's passing, and even though Ms. Vivian still misses him—and rightfully so—she still puts on a smile and lends an encouraging word to a listening ear. Such was the case when Bret was hospitalized, and Susie was visibly upset; Ms. Vivian encouraged Susie to see about Bret, despite the apprehension.
Ms. Vivian is very close to the Douglas Family—so close, in fact, that she automatically became a part of their family; she even suggested that Howard, Sarah, and Nicole call her "Aunt Tea." She is also known throughout the neighborhood as the woman who makes "the best damn strawberry seven-up cake in the world."
Ms. Vivian is also a very strong-willed (and sometimes stubborn) woman. She has been known to stand up to individuals that are much taller than her; all she has to do is stare them down, and they seemingly run off in terror. Ms. Vivian explains that when these certain individuals run away, they just notice her heavenly army that is constantly around her.
If she is not at a church meeting or visiting the Douglases, Ms. Vivian will be seen taking care of the elderly and the sick, watering the front yard, or taking an adventurous trip around Southern California with her eldest grandchild Candace.
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT:
The day Obama became the 44th U.S. President
MOST EMBARRASSING MOMENT:
During a church meeting, I bumped my knee across the edge of a pew, and… you figure out what I said.
FAVORITE ACTOR: Sidney Poitier
FAVORITE ACTRESS: Diahann Carroll
FAVORITE SINGER: Tina Turner
FAVORITE TV SHOW: The Jeffersons
FAVORITE MOVIE: Remember the Titans
FAVORITE ATHLETE: Michael Jordan
FAVORITE CARTOON: Charlie Brown
FAVORITE COLOR: Blue
FAVORITE FOOD: Club Sandwich with everything
FAVORITE ICE CREAM: Rocky Road
SECRET TALENT: I know sign language
IN MY FREE TIME I LIKE TO:
The day Obama became the 44th U.S. President
MOST EMBARRASSING MOMENT:
During a church meeting, I bumped my knee across the edge of a pew, and… you figure out what I said.
FAVORITE ACTOR: Sidney Poitier
FAVORITE ACTRESS: Diahann Carroll
FAVORITE SINGER: Tina Turner
FAVORITE TV SHOW: The Jeffersons
FAVORITE MOVIE: Remember the Titans
FAVORITE ATHLETE: Michael Jordan
FAVORITE CARTOON: Charlie Brown
FAVORITE COLOR: Blue
FAVORITE FOOD: Club Sandwich with everything
FAVORITE ICE CREAM: Rocky Road
SECRET TALENT: I know sign language
IN MY FREE TIME I LIKE TO:
Enjoy my family and friends
IF I COULD’VE DONE IT DIFFERENTLY:
I would’ve probably opened a bakery.
MY ROLE MODEL(S) GROWING UP:
My grandmother and my mother
THE BEST ADVICE EVER GIVEN TO ME:
Keep on praying, trusting, and believing.
SOMEONE WHO SHARES MY BIRTHDAY:
Emeril Lagasse (that chef on TV that yells "BAM!!"), Eric Benet (singer), Linda Lavin (from Alice) and Penny Marshall (from Laverne & Shirley)
MY DREAM/GOAL IN LIFE IS TO:
Keep on livin’ and spreading love until it’s time to go home.
THREE WORDS TO DESCRIBE ME:
Humble, Modest, Joyful
MY BEST FRIEND (ACE-BOOM-KOOM):
Mother Thelma Davis
MY FAVORITE PLACE TO VISIT:
Toronto, Ontario, Canada… someday soon.
IF I HAD ONE WISH:
Clark would still be here with me.
SOMETHING INTERESTING ABOUT ME:
I’m not your average senior citizen. As much as I love going to church and listening to my gospel songs, every once in a while I’ll play that ol’ skool Motown and kick it with the youngins… and I even listen to a little rap.
IF I COULD’VE DONE IT DIFFERENTLY:
I would’ve probably opened a bakery.
MY ROLE MODEL(S) GROWING UP:
My grandmother and my mother
THE BEST ADVICE EVER GIVEN TO ME:
Keep on praying, trusting, and believing.
SOMEONE WHO SHARES MY BIRTHDAY:
Emeril Lagasse (that chef on TV that yells "BAM!!"), Eric Benet (singer), Linda Lavin (from Alice) and Penny Marshall (from Laverne & Shirley)
MY DREAM/GOAL IN LIFE IS TO:
Keep on livin’ and spreading love until it’s time to go home.
THREE WORDS TO DESCRIBE ME:
Humble, Modest, Joyful
MY BEST FRIEND (ACE-BOOM-KOOM):
Mother Thelma Davis
MY FAVORITE PLACE TO VISIT:
Toronto, Ontario, Canada… someday soon.
IF I HAD ONE WISH:
Clark would still be here with me.
SOMETHING INTERESTING ABOUT ME:
I’m not your average senior citizen. As much as I love going to church and listening to my gospel songs, every once in a while I’ll play that ol’ skool Motown and kick it with the youngins… and I even listen to a little rap.
